Oscar Winner Ryan Bingham Previews Junky Star
The award-winning team of Ryan Bingham and producer T Bone Burnett are working together again, this time on a full length album titled Junky Star (scheduled for a Sept. 7 release). Since their last project resulted in Oscar and Golden Globe wins for "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)," you can bet this one will get plenty of attention. Judging from the two tracks streaming on Bingham's website, it will probably deserve it. "Depression" shows that he's not afraid to comment on current events, while the dark narrative, "Hallelujah," tells the story of a murdered man and his afterlife experience. With Burnett's sure hand leading mostly-acoustic instrumentation, Bingham's distinctive rasp is allowed to develop without being drowned out or left hanging. I, for one, really hope this is the beginning of a long-lasting musical partnership. (Grammy predictions, anyone?) Also, don't forget Bingham is up for the Nationwide On Your Side award at Wednesday's (June 9) CMT Music Awards, along with Randy Houser, Justin Moore and Chris Young.
Photo credit: Eric Charbonneau/WireImage
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
moopowerx says:
His rough voice, straight acoustic guitar, kinda reminds me of Bob Dylan.
carrietx says:
Ryan Bingham is terrific. I’ll buy anything he records. Have the Crazy Heart Soundtrack. One of the best albums in my collection. Ryan, Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell are better than many of our current male country “stars.” Too bad we can’t hear more of them.
Was not familiar with Ryan until Crazy Heart, then saw his Austin City Limits on PBS. Great writer and song stylist. Love him!!!
carrietx says:
P.S. Thanks for the informative blog.
D Trotter says:
My guess is the next album will be the breakthrough for Ryan. It should be huge.
Redmaz says:
? Breakthrough to what? His CD “Mescalito” was a #1 album. And what about the AMA Honors and Awards show? The man has been a major force in his genre for a couple of years now. carrietx says “Too bad we can’t hear more of him” What does that mean? Is there someone stopping you from listening to him? You do know he has 2 albums out don’t you?(other than the Crazy Heart soundtrack)
D Trotter says:
Ummm, a “Breakthrough” to actually selling a sizable number of albums?
Yes, I’m well aware he’s great, I’ve owned both his albums long, long before the “Crazy Heart” soundtrack. (I’d actually like the version of “The Weary Kind” he played on the Mojo Nixon XM radio show.)
But “Mecsalito” didn’t chart on the US or the US Country despite being given a solid review by Rolling Stone. “Roadhouse Son” fared a little better, 65th on the US charts and 17th on the US Country.
I have no idea how many albums need to be sold for an album to become #1 on the Americana Charts — 10 or 20 thousand, I’m guessing? — but it’s neither that ranking, nor Ryan’s well-deserved Americana Awards that will enhance his status among the larger market of album buyers. It’s the Oscar, and the added recognition/exposure from the “Crazy Heart” movie.
Of course, his continued artistic growth and the presence of T-Bone doesn’t hurt either. This is Ryan’s time.
Grant says:
If I was him I wouldn’t even wanna be closely related to the music that’s on the Billboard Top 25 Country Charts. 98% of that stuff is garabage.